120 THE NEW EEA 



intelligence. When these conditions — the general and 

 concentrated application of science to life and the 

 elevation of the mass of the people until they can 

 demand and watch it — are realized, the race will move 

 on at an amazing pace. I am optimistic enough to 

 believe that this new era, new sort of evolution, will 

 begin in the twentieth century. And before the race 

 lie millions of years during which this planet will be 

 habitable. 



In fine, a word to the croakers who say that science 

 may work out definite tasks, but it assigns no general 

 goal to life. The fact is that you need no science 

 whatever to answer that foolish question : What is 

 the end of life ? It is whatever we men may choose 

 to make it ; and since we live in social groups, and 

 a man's actions depend upon and influence his neigh- 

 bours, it is what we choose to make it collectively. 

 There is no doubt to-day about our choice. We are 

 going to develop what is most clearly worth developing 

 in us : intelligence, refinement, character, health. We 

 are going to eliminate pain, unhappiness, ignorance, 

 coarseness, violence, and poverty, as far as possible. 

 We are going to have a hundred commonwealths, ten 

 thousand cities, competing with each other in the reali 

 zation of this ideal. So, when the war drums beat no 

 longer and the strong have ceased to exploit the weak, 

 the fundamental condition of progress, mutual stimu- 

 lation, will be provided on a higher plane, and the 

 close interconnection of the whole world will make it 

 more effective than ever. 



PRINTED BY WATTS AND CO., JOHNSON'S COURT, FLEET STREET, LONDON, E.C.4. 



